Our story
Meet the founders - Megan and Aadil
Hastshilp ("hast-shilp") is a small family owned UK-based business, run by Megan and Aadil. We are both passionate about natural materials and traditional craftsmanship, which was and will always be the foundation of our company. Aadil's background in artisanal craftsmanship, and Megan's love for interiors made for the perfect pairing.
How we started
The concept of Hastshilp began when we discovered there was a lack of high-quality rattan homewares on the market and a rapid decrease of production in India, where Aadil is originally from. Due to an increase in cheaper machine-made goods and plastic alternatives, cane craftsmanship is sadly becoming a dying art there. After generations of hard work, many artisans have been left without a reliable income, including many in Aadil's hometown.
Our artisan family & their generational craftsmanship
We work with independent artisans who work from their own shops and homes. As the skill is passed from generation to generation, we have many families who all work together, skilfully handcrafting each item with the traditional process of cane craftsmanship. By working independently with us, our artisans are able to earn a more than fair wage of living, creating a secure life and future for their families. Producing on a smaller scale and with a steady production ensures that our artisans will always have work and a stable income.
Our products
Our bespoke designs are hand-drawn in our UK-based studio, and then sent over to our partner team in India to be brought to life. All our products are handcrafted in a small town in Northern India, where Aadil is originally from, by families whose skills have been passed down through generations. Ethical and sustainable practices were important to us right from the beginning, as well as ensuring we were educated on the whole process, from sourcing to production and everything in between.
As each item is handmade, and due to the use of natural materials and the traditional process of working with cane, no two items will be exactly the same. Rather than hiding slight markings and darker spots which occur naturally, we choose to embrace them, and believe this is what makes our items so special and unique.
Our goal - sustainable, ethical & long-lasting products
We will always strive to be as sustainable as we can, and are constantly making efforts to improve in all aspects of our company. These are the areas that we are currently focusing on:
- Preserve the art of traditional craftsmanship - training programme to teach younger generations the skill of cane craftsmanship to keep it going through the generations
- Produce high-quality and long-lasting products - we pride ourselves on the quality of our products, always using the highest quality of rattan available to ensure they last for many years to come
- Use of natural and sustainable materials in all areas - sourcing local rattan, using recyclable packaging, eco-conscious shipping partners
If you have any questions, or if you would like to know more about our products or artisans, please send us a message.